KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said the federal government refusal to devolve its functions and ministries to the provinces in accordance with the 18th Amendment is an injustice that will intensify the prevailing sense of deprivation among the smaller provinces.

The chief minister was talking to a delegation of the senate functional committee on devolution process led by its chairman Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Mohammad Shahi. Other delegates included Nawabzada Saifullah Magsi, Tahir Mashahadi, Taj Hyder, Atta-ur-Rehman, Mohammad Usman Khan Kakar and Saeed Ghani.

Recalling that the PPP-led government had got the 18th Amendment passed unanimously, the chief minister said the present federal government in principle ought to have devolved the functions, powers and assets of all the 18 ministries. Their “denial is bound to aggravate the sense of deprivation among the smaller provinces,” he added.

“The devolution of Evacuee Trust, release of funds to the provincial population welfare department, transfer of directorate of central warehouse and supplies, and the national research institute of fertilizer care, Karachi, transfer of national coaching centre from Pakistan Sports Board, devolution of EOBI, workers’ welfare fund, OECP and OPF to the provinces, provincial representatives in the federal entities, devolution of institutions/office related to fisheries, matters pertaining to higher education and similar bodies and various others are still awaited,” said Mr Shah.

The chief minister said: “We have been raising voice, sending letters and notes but all of them fall on deaf ears.” He expressed the hope that the senate committee would take up the case of smaller provinces with the federal government.

Supporting the chief minister’s stance, Senator Shahi said the federal government instead of devolving its 18 ministries created another 12 ministries.

“We have held meetings with the chief ministers of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. And now we are meeting you [Sindh CM]. All the three provinces have the same reservation,” said the chairman, adding that he was quite happy that the provinces were on the same page on the devolution issue.

Sen Shahi said Chief Secretary Siddique Memon gave them a detailed briefing on the devolution issue and the reservation of the provincial government and also presented Sindh case in decent way. “Your case is quite strong and further we would raise this issue with the federal government,” he assured.

The chief minister thanked the senate committee for being the voice of smaller provinces in the centre and hoped that their efforts would definitely bear the fruit. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah called on governor-designate Justice (rtd) Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui at his residence and congratulated him on the appointment.

He presented a bouquet to Justice Siddiqui and lauded his services as the chief justice of Pakistan. He also praised his courage and inner strength to refuse to take oath under the provisional constitution order.

The chief minister expressed the hope that Justice Siddiqui would serve the people of Sindh with the same zeal and spirit, as he had served the people of Pakistan as chief justice.

The governor-designate thanked him and appreciated his efforts to establish good governance and develop institutions in the province.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2016